MIRI: Miri police and the public lopped off a whopping 39 per cent in street crimes in the city, surpassing the national key performance index (KPI) for the police force since the beginning of this year.
EFFORTS PAYING OFF: Jamaluddin spearheads crime-busting efforts in Miri.
Miri OCPD ACP Jamaluddin Ibrahim said the performance, which was nearly twice as good as the KPI, was the result of concerted crime prevention efforts and strategies, with support from the public.
This was for the Jan 1 to May 6 period this year with no armed gang robbery reported in the streets of Miri.
Miri police has also brought down the crime index by 11 per cent which is a reflection of continuing improvement to security, with inroads made in reducing street crimes such as snatching, robbery and others.
Jamaluddin revealed this in a press conference yesterday after receiving, on behalf of IPD Miri Police Club, a cheque for RM5,000 from Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication and Assistant Minister of Sports.
The KPI for the Royal Malaysian Police was 20 per cent reduction of street crimes, and Miri Police performance almost doubled the national standard.
Jamaluddin said among the contributing factors were public cooperation and tip-offs, identification of hotspots and corrective action, increased sector patrols and surveillance, and collaboration with General Operations Force, Rela and neighbourhood vigilante groups.
Also reduced were murders by 50 per cent; theft of vehicles and violent crimes (7 per cent) and theft of properties (11 per cent) although rape and sexual molestation cases increased.
The availability of Mobile Patrol Vehicles (MPVs) has helped beef up round-the-clock coverage, with six on the road at any one time while supporting teams from Miri Central Police Stations complement the security measures undertaken.
On rape, there were seven cases reported and solved but the findings would only be concluded in court, he said. Findings could vary as some cases were reported after the man failed to fulfil the promise to marry his girlfriend, while force or intimidation was used in other cases.
Jamaluddin declined to provide the statistics, fearing it could be misconstrued by certain quarters. He said Miri Police has concertedly striven to bring down the crime rate to make Miri a safe city in the past two years.
Lee meanwhile commended Miri Police for working hard to reduce the crime index and making Miri streets safer, as reflected in the sharp drop in crime. “The success was a result of police and public cooperation and we look forward to continuing to make Miri a safe city,” he said.